“You don’t have to do that,” I said, staring down at my hands.He turned his head to me. “Do what?”I rubbed the sweat from my palms off on my jeans. “Stick around. You can leave if you want. I’m not expecting you to stay and babysit me.”“Hey,” he nudged me with his shoulder, drawing my gaze to his. “I’m staying. You won’t get rid of me that easily.”Despite the tremors of relief coursing through me, I didn’t relax. “The offer stands. Any time you want to go just… go.”“Well, I don’t want the offer, because I’m not going anywhere, not unless you’re coming with me.”“Why?” It took a second to realize that the barely whispered word had come from me.He reached for my hand. His long, warm fingers laced through mine, and that was all the answer I needed.”

“He moved, so quick, it was as if I blinked and he vanished from the window and reappeared in front of me. I jumped in surprise, hitting the door with a dull thud. I may have breathed his name, but I couldn’t be sure of anything except his swelling scent and the heat wafting off his body. The dreamy sensation pulsed in my skull, filling me with an airy sensation that sucked the breath from my lungs. The current washed through me, carrying away all reasoning, all doubts. It was just me and him and the pounding electricity between us. “I—I didn’t come for this.” yet, my hands reached for him, fisting in his hair and curling around his shoulder. “I should… go…” I pulled him to me.”

“Fine. Stay. I don’t care,” I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes. “But don’t think I’m going to share the bed!”~Touching Smoke”

“I don’t know how to dance!” she said. His arms tightened around her when she tried to pull away. “Then just let me hold you.”

“The fiery tickle of outrage burned up her throat. “How the hell would you know that when you never gave me a chance?”Something dark and scorching flickered behind his eyes. “Because no other girl has ever made me want to forget all my own rules for them.”

“His eyes were twin flakes of ember floating into the night from a roaring inferno. “I won’t let anything happen to you. No matter what I have to do, I will keep you safe.”

“What the hell do you want from me?” “What are you trying to do to me?”“Stop! Just stop!” he spits.“Why? What else needs to be said? I think you’ve told me enough lies for a lifetime.”“No more lies,” he says angrily. “I don’t even want to talk to you anymore. I just want to hear you tell me that you don’t feel anything for me. That you want me to leave you alone and never come back. Then I’ll go. If that’s what you really want, I’ll go.”“Don’t. Please don’t say it.”“Why?”“Because I don’t want you to. I need you to come back to me. Not to help me. Or to help my father. I’m done with that. I don’t want your help. It all boils down to you. I just want you.”“I just want you.”“Okay.”